About the AARFP
Mission, Vision, Values | Code of Ethics | Goals | History | Bylaws | Strategic Plan 2004 - 2006
The Association was established in 1978 to build linkages among recreation facility operators across Alberta. The Association has a membership of over 800 people and manages services for the membership through a balanced budget of over $350,000. More than 220,000 people have participated in training courses, conferences and seminars organized by the Association.
MISSION STATEMENT
The Alberta Association of Recreation Facility Personnel is a provincial organization dedicated to providing excellence in training and professional development for individuals involved in the operation of recreation facilities.
VISION
As Association fostering professional development of recreation facility personnel thereby improving experiences for Albertans in recreation facilities.
VALUES
The Alberta Association of Recreation Facility Personnel observes these values in its business operation:
- Delivering quality service to and for the membership
- Encouraging camaraderie and goodwill among members
- Providing leading edge educational programs
- Sharing information openly
- Committing to honesty and integrity
- Respecting diversity of people and their views
CODE OF ETHICS
Members shall conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the following:
- Act ethically and morally
- Maintain high ideals and integrity in all relationships
- Promote the Mission, Vision, Values and Goals of the Association independently, in groups and with partners
- Follow the Association's by-laws and laws of the land
- Interact with fellow members and invite prospective members
- Refrain from any activity that may disgrace or may be in conflict with the Association or employer
In all these ways transmit this Association, not lessen but lift it, to greater heights.
GOALS
The following goals support the Mission, Vision, Values and Code of Ethics of the Association:
- Professional Development
- Provide a variety of educational opportunities related to the operation of recreation facilities.
- Communication
- Provide communication channels between members, agencies and individuals.
- Advocacy
- Pro-actively represent the membership on recreation industry issues.
- Promotion
- Market and promote products and services.
- Fellowship
- Encourage and facilitate opportunities for goodwill and fellowship among members.
- Resource Development
- Develop, support and maintain human, written and financial resources.
- Administration
- Plan, coordinate and implement the policies that guide the activities of the association.
HISTORY
 In the late 1940s and 1950s
The Alberta Recreation Executives Association was formed (very few municipalities had established Recreation Boards and even fewer had professional Recreation and Parks staff). The few facilities that did exist were located in the larger centers.
1950s and 1960s
There was a gradual growth in the development of facilities. In the early 1960's the Alberta Government recognized the need for community recreation services and provided grants to communities for facility development.
1970s
The ARPA attempted to meet the needs of facility managers but it was the Recreation and Parks administrations who tended to represent the communities at ARPA - not facility staff. People from Alberta started to attend meetings in British Columbia (B.C. Recreation Facility Association).
The provincial government's major Cultural Recreation Grant Program was put in place in 1973. This program provided $100 per capita over 10 years (based on the highest population of each municipality). The increase in facilities and the level of sophistication in new facilities resulted in an increase in the number of people employed in work related to facility operation and maintenance.
A meeting was held in Central Alberta in April 1976, inviting facility staff from Central Alberta and a consultant from Alberta Recreation and Parks.
This meeting initiated 2 objectives:
- To form a provincial association for facility operators with workable zones within the association.
- To form an association of facility operators within their area and continue to promote provincial organization.
It was suggested that such an association be a specialized recreation oriented body, closely related to the ARPA. A commitment was made at that time to work closely with ARPA and the Areas and Facilities Planning section of Alberta, Recreation and Parks. The group decided to operate under the wing of the BC Association until Alberta formed its own association.
The group's objectives included:
- provide courses and seminars in co-operation with Alberta Recreation and Parks.
- exchange information of an administrative or technical nature.
- improve lines of communication between recreation personnel.
- provide input into the planning and design of recreation facilities and municipalities and organizations.
- promote the continued and extended use of recreation facilities through proper management.
25 people got together at the ARPA Conference (Lethbridge) in October 1977. There was a consensus that a separate organization should be formed to accommodate the needs of facility personnel.
A Steering Committee met in November to compile a list of all facility people, and prepare and circulate a questionnaire to determine interest for a possible fall workshop.
Edmonton became the location for the first workshop. This September 1978 workshop included the preparation and approval of a Constitution and Bylaws. The first Board of Directors was elected. The Associates initially became involved in this workshop.
The Second workshop was held in Red Deer in May 1979. The Association's specific accomplishments at that time included:
- clearly stated Objectives.
- preliminary Policies and Procedures.
- establishment and attainment of short-term goals.
- sponsorship to successful conferences.
- establishment of a newsletter.
- circulation of resource materials to members and others.
- establishment of good relations the Alberta Government (Recreation and Parks), the BC Recreation Facilities Association and the ARPA.
- design of a logo and utilization of the logo on stationery and lapel pins.
1980s
In April of 1980, Don Moore recommended the dissolution of the Alberta Zone as a zone of the BC Association. The Alberta Association had: 157 individual members, 15 associate members, and 20 municipal members. By 1989, the Association had over: 500 individual members, 24 associate members, and 22 municipal members. The designation for municipal membership was eliminated.
 1990s
A new logo was adopted in 1990. The informal name of the Association was shortened to Recreation Facility Personnel. The Association membership was: 600 individual members and 50 associate members.
The Association membership in 1991 was: 730 individual members and 47 associate members. Development of courses included:
- Revision of the Sportsfields course to a Parks and Sportsfields format.
- Development of Foremanship Level I a (1991 and 1992) course.
In 1992, the William Metcalfe Award was introduced at the 15th annual conference in Edmonton. The Park & Sportsfield Operator Course award was implemented the following year. By 1994, the Code of Ethics for Associate members was developed, as was the development of a business plan for FASA. The Association Home Page was developed in 1995. Instructor evaluations were conducted by an independent consultant.
The association became totally responsible for all course administration in 1996, and decided to try offering Level II Arena as 3-day course instead of 4 days. In 1997, the Piloted Pool Operator Level I & II was combined. A Technical Director was hired in 1998 to ease the load on the Education Rep. Also hired an Office Administrator to ease the administrative load on the Executive Director. In 1999, the Executive Director moved to half time hours.
 2000s
Piloted Arena Maintenance and Pool Level III courses in 2000. A new logo was introduced in 2004 to better reflect the provincial designation, and included a maple leaf, symbol of Canada.
In Summary:
The founders believed that the major aim of the Association was to provide opportunities for the growth and development of recreation facility staff, thereby providing a more effective and efficient service to Alberta communities. They also believed that the Association could be the major communication link between the Alberta Association of Recreation Facility Personnel, members of the Association, government agencies and the communities they serve.
ALBERTA RECREATION FACILITY PERSONNEL
11150 Bonaventure Drive S.E., Calgary, AB T2J 6R9
Phone: 403-253-7544 ... Toll Free: 1-888-253-7544 ... Fax: 403-253-9181 ... E-Mail: office@aarfp.com
____________________________________________________________
These pages are created and maintained by Windsor Graphics.
|